Fiction Author, Professional Writer, Published Author- Loganville, GA

“Well, I like it up when I’m riding. Besides, I’ll need to put it up when we go swimming later,” she said, holding out her hand.

Flashing his father’s smile, he dropped the hair band onto her palm.

Then she noticed! “Your hair, you cut it!”

“Yeah, I think it makes me look older, more sophisticated, don’t you?” he said in a low masculine voice, turning his head to give her a better view.

“No, I liked your hair long. It’s always been long.”

As the pair began walking side by side along the lake trail, Bonanza and Cisco breathing heavily in unison, Katherine snuck peeks at TJ. The geeky and goofy neighbor boy she had played tag and hide-n-seek with since they were toddlers, did look different, more like a young man than an awkward teen. Even though he was three months her senior, she had always looked younger than she did. Was it the shorter hair? For a moment she might have even felt attracted to him. Josephine shook her head, cracking a lop-sided smile to herself -enough silly thoughts.

“What did you bring us?” she asked, sliding her hair band over her wrist. For as long as they had gone on morning trail rides together, they took turns bringing breakfast.

TJ flipped a drawstring bag braided into Cisco’s mane over the gelding’s neck. “Ham biscuits, and they’re still warm, but they won’t be for long.” TJ cued Cisco into a trot leading the way down the trail toward the hunting cabin.

When they reached the log cabin built on stilts not far from shore, they slid from their mounts and tied them to the hitching post out front.

“Give me the sack and I’ll set things up inside while you get us some water,” Josephine instructed.

TJ gave her a smirk, but didn’t hesitate, grabbing the bucket off the front porch and heading to the handpump out back. She had always had the upper hand in their friendship. TJ had never been shy about showing his feelings toward her. As far back as she could remember he’d had a crush on her; kissing her as a toddler, long uncomfortable stares in puberty, and now looking for any excuse to touch her or be close to her, which had become a problem at school.

She didn’t like the strange looks and rude comments made by her white friends anytime he stopped to talk to her in the hall. “Why do you even bother with the Indian?” they would say. Sometimes she pretended not to see him or would turn away and begin a conversation with someone else before he could reach her. She felt bad afterward, but TJ seemed to understand and never brought it up. She was glad she wouldn’t have to choose between TJ and her friends at school any longer.

And next week, she was leaving for California! Certainly, in no time at all she would meet some surfers like the Beach Boys or perhaps an older pre-law or pre-med student who struck her fancy. Josephine was well aware of her beauty, having had her pick of boys through high school, and figured the possibilities would be endless at college.

Josephine pulled plates and glasses from the cabinet and tore a few paper towels off the roll that hung from a wire hanger above the water basin, setting the table for two.

TJ soon joined her, filled their glasses and sat down across from her. Before she could take a bite of her biscuit he leaned across the table and gently brushed a few loose hairs from her face. Josephine’s tummy flipped like a pancake. What was that? Was she going to be ill? She pushed his hand away – sending her full glass of water flying.

“Geeze, Jo, I was only trying to keep your hair out of your food.”

“Look at this mess, would you!” Josephine got up, took her plate to the basin in an effort to salvage her meal and grabbed the whole roll of paper towels. After wiping down her seat she got down on her hands and knees to dry the floor and wall. As she wiped up the corner, something brushed her hand. Stuck between the rough-cut baseboard and log wall was a Polaroid photograph. She pulled it out, got up off the floor and brushed the dust from it. She couldn’t believe her eyes! “What is this?!”

5 STAR Amazon Reviews - Through the Mist

Romance plus suspense plus real, believable charcters--including the horses!

There's something for everyone here. Like romances? Katherine, who grows up in a wealthy but dysfunctional family, is torn between two loves. Which one will she choose? Want action and suspense? There's a whole family of nasty villains to keep things lively. Love horses? So does the author, and she gives many of the horses in the story distinct personalities. There are plenty of interesting and well-developed human characters as well, including Betsy, the long-time companion of Katherine's grandfather, and brave little Lisa, who will take any risk to protect the horses. And it's all set in the beautiful big sky country of Montana, with the setting as well-described as the people.

Wonderful story about forgiveness

This is a wonderful story about forgiveness. Susan cleverly wove two time periods together so well that the story keeps your interest piqued. She keeps dangling enough questions that you just have to find out what happens. A truly heartwarming story and if you love horses, this book is for you! I highly recommend "Through the Mist" and am really looking forward to the sequel.

Tapping into all of your senses with her beautifully descriptive writing

Susan has a true gift of tapping into all of your senses with her beautifully descriptive writing. It's easy to put yourself into this story, imagining all of the sights, sounds, and feelings of this book. If you're a horse enthusiast, you'll undoubtedly relate to the bond between horse and rider described in this story and love the heartwarming connections and references to those lovely animals through out. The average reader will also be captivated by this timeless tale, reading on the edge of your seat and wanting more when all is said in done. I can't wait for the sequel, Into the Fire, due out in 2018.

Susan has a gift for weaving a complicated love story though many lives and over many years

Susan Abel is a talented writer. The book was hard to put down as I got into the story. Susan has a gift for weaving a complicated love story though many lives and over many years and includes Indian history and crisp pictures of Montana. Her descriptions were creative and brought you into the action and her love of horses was palpable. Don't give up reading this work in the first or second chapters. It gets really good about chapter 3.

The writing hooked me from the beginning and never let me go

I started this book a few days ago and absolutely devoured it. Wow! The writing hooked me from the beginning and never let me go. One of the questions at the end asks the reader to summarize the book's message in one word. For me: hope. Woven into the story are many life lessons. For me, I most connected with the fact that in life, when we experience pain, there is also an opportunity for growth and learning. We have to believe that some beauty can come out of darkness. Thank you, Susaern Abel, for sharing this story with the world! I did not want it to end. Just, wow.

Very engaging and intelligently written book

Couldn't put this one down. Very engaging and intelligently written book about horses and the people who love them. Ms. Abel's ability to use words that weave relationships together is to be envied. Her insights into the emotional world are intriguing. She examines how we set ourselves adrift on a sea of indecision, agonize over our choices yet sometimes still are able to find success is heartwarming and inspirational.

5 STAR Amazon Reviews - Into the Fire

Great story teller

I ordered both of the books. This is the second of the trilogy. I started it immediately after reading the first and could not put it down til I finished. Fantastic story line. It combines people and horses in a way that you can't put it down til you finish it.. So much is happening. I can't wait for the third book of the Trilogy. It shows family life, prejudice, horses. All combined in a great story. I would recommend this book 100%.

Riveting book for horse person

Thoroughly enjoyed the second book of this trilogy, like I did the first. Found my heart pounding during the dangerous passages and find the horse descriptions true to life.

Fast and Real

With “Into the Fire,” Susan Abel has written a fine sequel to "Into the Mist." This heart-gripping tale about a race against time and the mountain centers on parallel romances, revenge and redemption. It kept me flipping pages into the night. I especially liked Abel's depictions of Nature, horses and humans. They are so real, you feel right in the midst of things. As a bonus, she treats family values and racial prejudice with calm sensitivity. Kudos.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=susan+abel&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss Just copy and past

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5 STAR Amazon Reviews - From the Darkness

Great Read

I really enjoyed this book, this 3 book s series. Well developed characters, strong women,, great horses and dogs, happy times, sad times, great horse scenes a.nd action, romance, edge of your seat action and suspense , bad guys who get what they deserve. I'm sorry to see the series end.

Great finale to terrific series

I was looking forward to the release of this book and was not disappointed. I felt like I was there with the characters. Susan Abel is very talented, her descriptions are realistic keeping you in the edge of your seat. Her Two Ponies Trilogy was one of the best series I have read involving people and horses.

Lots of twists and turns

In From the Darkness, the third book in the Two Ponies Trilogy, Susan has tied up the saga with the same creativity and emotion that I found in the two prior novels in the series. Lots of twists and turns kept my attention throughout this great story. Susan's knowledge of equestrian life and Blackfeet culture add to the genuineness of the narrative. You will not be disappointed as you follow Jo and Kat on their life journey.

THROUGH THE MIST review

Through the Mist' by Susan Abel is a compelling tale of a young woman and the family, both assigned and chosen, that she draws around her.

The book's narrative unfurls slowly, allowing the reader to come to understand Katherine O'Reilly, Steven Walker, Billy Black, and the adults in their lives fully. The racism endured by the Blackfeet on and off their Montana reservation, the prejudice still surrounding interracial relationships, and the threat of losing Two Ponies Ranch hovers menacingly around the characters, twisting and distorting their paths in their search for love and justice.

While this story does contain a romance and a love triangle at its center, I would not categorize the book as a romance. It is about a lot more - Katherine's search for self-discovery and independence, the failings of her parents, the haven created by her Uncle Joseph and Betsey at Two Ponies, and the way in which horses have guided her journey. There is a lot of character development Katherine undergoes in the novel's pages, and at its end, we are left with a complete picture of a startlingly real woman. The book portrays life as messy and chaotic as real life often is, while still providing a satisfactory conclusion at the book's close.

The horses do play a prominent role in the story, with the central character of Betsey's pinto Flower standing at the story's core. It is Flower who progresses the plot, both in the contemporary setting of 1975 and in the characters' past. However, the other horses leap off the page and into the reader's hearts. I am looking forward to seeing how they will guide the next two installments in the trilogy.

This was a very strong, well-written first novel for the series. It was such a complete story in itself that I'm wondering where the next book will take readers, but I'm eager to find out. Highly recommended for lovers of fiction, western fiction, and equestrian fiction!

Susan@SusanAbel.com

Susan's EQUINE ART & MERCHANDISE is available at most events and by direct mail. See examples on her "About" page and find an event by you on the "Events" page, or email Susan for pricing and availability on her "Contact" page.

Excerpts of The Two Ponies Trilogy and Roots Never Die can be found on the "Work" pages, and a short story, Yellow Bird, which can be read in its entirety.

Comments and questions are welcome, or order your signed copy of either book, by contacting the author by email on the "Contact" page.

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